Improvement in egg-carriers



M. A. HOWELL, Jr

EGG-CARRIERS.

No. 1.94,'9145, Patented sept. 4,1577.

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@42m/: l Ifwmar N.FETERS, PHDTO-LITHGRAPMER, WASHINGTON D C MARTIN A.HOWELL, JR.,

OF 'STREATOR, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN EeecARmERs- Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 194,9 E4, dated September 4,1877; application tiled v v May 16,1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN A. HOWELL. Jr., of the town of Streator, inthe county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Egg-Crates, which improvement is fully set forthin the following specification, reference beingliad to the accompanyingdrawing.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved egg crate or boxwhich shall be adapted to contain and safely transport a larger numberof eggs than those of the same size in common use, and which may,wit-hal, be cheaply constructed.

Referring to the drawing, Figure l is a side or edge View of one of theracks employed in the crate. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3is a side elevation of the crate.

I construct a box about fourteen inches wide, twenty-eight inches long,and about sixteen inches in height, the general construction of which isshown in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawing. I then take a block ofbass-wood, or any other suitable wood, about equal to the insidemeasurement of the box as to length and width. The thickness of thisblock is about four and a half inches, in order that it may be sawedinto eight pieces after boring. I then place this block under aboring-machine, and with a gang of bits bore seventy two holes, eachbeing about one and sevenLeighths inch in diameter, and occupyingpositions as are shown at O C, Fig. 2, leaving a wide margin upon oneend and edge of the piece at right angles to one another, which isplainly seen in the plan View, Fig. 2.

After the boring is completed I saw it into eight parts of one-half inchthickness, leaving the rough saw-cut surface in the condition in whichthe saw left it. I fasten upon each end of these pieces a strip of woodor slat, b b, Figs. l and 2, in order that these pieces or racks, whenplaced in their proper position in lthe box, shall retain theirrespective distance from one another. I then place in each inside cornerof the box a small strip of wood, E E, Fig. 3, in a vertical positionand rmly fastened, to act as stays to the racks, that all lateral motionmay be avoided.

About three-quarters of an inch above the bottom of the box I place twosmall strips of wood, one upon each end, inside, upon which the bottomrack will rest in its proper position above the bottom of the box.

The bottom of the box is raised above the` ends and sides, that thelower tier ot eggs mayl receive the spring of the raised bottom, rendering them more safe in transportation over l rough roads than ifresting upon a hard bot-J4 tom. I then take the racks, as are shown inFigs. l and 2, with their rough surfaces, and immerse them in a solutionof very adhesive and elastic material, such as common glue. I then coverevery part with line sifted cha, such as is usually procured byscreening oats or other cereals. After considerable agitation thesurface becomes thoroughly coated with a soft bed, cushion-like, whichprevents the contact of the eggs with the otherwise hard surface of thewood, the rough saw-cut surfaces assisting in the increase ofelasticity, and giving a rmer hold to the adhesive material used, whilethe elasticity of the rack, supported atthe ends only, gives to thewhole a guarantee of safety.

After being thus coated the eight racks, all being alike, are placed inthe box, each alternate rack being reversed, so that the wide marginalspans upon one end and side shall be reversed in each alternate rack, bywhich means the holes C C in each rack fall opposite to the interveningspaces D D, which are shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, upon which spacesthe overlying tier of eggs shall rest, each rack supporting the eggs inthe several holes in the rack above, which is shown more in detail inFig. 3.

It will be seen that the racks a a are each about onhalLarLinch inthickness, and that the greatest diameter or bulge of the egg fills thisspace, leaving the tapering ends projecting above and below, thuspreventing the possibility of contact of their surfaces by any lateralmotion.

Upon the bottom of this box loose cut straw or chaff is placed, and intothis the lowermost tier of eggs is embedded, which, with the elasticityof the raised bottom, insures a safe and easy carriage while in courseof transportation over rough country roads.

The top or cover of this box is constructed in the ordinary Way, withend pieces nailed thereon. Through these end pieces an eyebolt is fixedfor the purpose of' fastening the cover down, these said bolts ttinginto corresponding holes bored in the piece secured t0 the ends of thebox and corresponding to the pieces on the cover, which is clearly shownat F F, Fig. 3.

This construction and arrangement of racks enables forty-eight dozeneggs to be packed in the crate, Whereas but about thirty dozen can bepacked in crates of the same size in common use.

What I claim is- 1. For use in an egg crate or box, a perforated rackcovered with adhesive substance and an outer coat of chaff, as shown anddescribed, for the purpose specified.

2. 1n combination with a box constructed and arranged as described, areversible rack or racks covered with an elastic coating, for thepurposes and uses substantially as described.

MARTIN A. HOWELL, JR.

Witnesses:

WlLsoN S. HOWELL, D. L. WooDs, M. D.

